Huron County is working with a number of funding sources to develop sustainable and accessible Affordable Housing in the county.
Most recently the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative announced it is providing $6.424 million towards the development of an affordable housing project to be located in Exeter. And Huron County Warden Glen McNeil says they are currently renovating two tri-plexes on Bennett Street in Goderich.
“That happened because of a fire and we decided to turn the two county-owned homes into tri-plexes to house more people. So Huron County is very committed to developing more affordable housing. So the two tri-plexes now are nearing completion and will be ready for occupants," McNeil explained.
The triplexes were developed utilizing funds from the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative, Social Services Relief Fund and the County of Huron. The total cost of the project is approximately $2 million.
McNeil says they also have a 39-unit project on Gibbons Street in Goderich.
“The town of Goderich sold us the property for one dollar and we are very appreciative of this relationship that we have with all of our municipalities and in this instance the town of Goderich. So this will be a blend of affordable housing, rent geared to income and supportive housing," added McNeil
The total cost of that project is approximately $2.4 million.
McNeil says the housing crisis is being felt throughout Ontario and across Canada and there is no quick fix. But he says Huron County is working with it's municipalities do what can be done to address the issue by building more affordable, rent-geared-to-income and supportive housing. He says while the situation is not unique to Huron County, the county and it's municipalities are taking the initiative to do something about it. And McNeil also acknowledges it could not be done without the financial support from the upper levels of government.